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Chess star father cleared of rape | Chess star father cleared of rape |
(10 minutes later) | |
A father has been found not guilty of raping his chess prodigy daughter. | A father has been found not guilty of raping his chess prodigy daughter. |
Ian Gilbert, 48, was accused of assaulting Jessie Gilbert at the family home in Woldingham, Surrey, over a period of five years. | Ian Gilbert, 48, was accused of assaulting Jessie Gilbert at the family home in Woldingham, Surrey, over a period of five years. |
He told Guildford Crown Court how his daughter was "quite capable of planning ahead" and could have made up the claims after they had argued. | He told Guildford Crown Court how his daughter was "quite capable of planning ahead" and could have made up the claims after they had argued. |
Jessie, 19, from Croydon, south London, fell to her death from a hotel window in the Czech Republic in July. | Jessie, 19, from Croydon, south London, fell to her death from a hotel window in the Czech Republic in July. |
She had been competing in an international chess tournament at the time of her death. | She had been competing in an international chess tournament at the time of her death. |
Mr Gilbert, a Royal Bank of Scotland director, was accused of repeatedly raping Jessie between 1995 and 2000. | Mr Gilbert, a Royal Bank of Scotland director, was accused of repeatedly raping Jessie between 1995 and 2000. |
The jury also found him not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault on other people. | The jury also found him not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault on other people. |
He now seeks to restore stability in his personal and professional life Ian Gilbert's solicitor | |
Reading a short statement outside the court after the verdict, Mr Gilbert's solicitor Colin Reynolds said his client had "strenuously denied allegations" all along. | Reading a short statement outside the court after the verdict, Mr Gilbert's solicitor Colin Reynolds said his client had "strenuously denied allegations" all along. |
"He is grateful to the jury for their obvious careful consideration of all the evidence and for returning appropriate verdicts which reflect the truth. | "He is grateful to the jury for their obvious careful consideration of all the evidence and for returning appropriate verdicts which reflect the truth. |
"He would ask you to respect his privacy as he now seeks to restore stability in his personal and professional life." | "He would ask you to respect his privacy as he now seeks to restore stability in his personal and professional life." |
Drug overdose | Drug overdose |
During the trial Mr Gilbert suggested Jessie may have deliberately drip-fed information about the alleged abuse to family and friends before she contacted police, in order to make her story more credible. | During the trial Mr Gilbert suggested Jessie may have deliberately drip-fed information about the alleged abuse to family and friends before she contacted police, in order to make her story more credible. |
The court heard Jessica fell out with her father after a row about a laptop computer. | The court heard Jessica fell out with her father after a row about a laptop computer. |
Jessie fell to her death from a hotel window in the Czech Republic. | Jessie fell to her death from a hotel window in the Czech Republic. |
She told her mother that she had been raped after her father moved out of the family home. The couple later divorced. | She told her mother that she had been raped after her father moved out of the family home. The couple later divorced. |
Jessie's death came shortly before Mr Gilbert's trial was originally scheduled to start. | Jessie's death came shortly before Mr Gilbert's trial was originally scheduled to start. |
In court, Mr Gilbert said that allegations of rape were "disgusting" and that Jessie was playing a game of chess against him and was preparing a strategy for revenge. | In court, Mr Gilbert said that allegations of rape were "disgusting" and that Jessie was playing a game of chess against him and was preparing a strategy for revenge. |
Mr Gilbert's new wife Sally was present with him at the court. | Mr Gilbert's new wife Sally was present with him at the court. |